Fans of “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” and “Legend”: This one’s for you. On an Earth laid waste by the Seven Stages War, humans in scattered outposts are struggling to rebuild. The one chance for a college education and a role in future leadership lies with the Testing, an opportunity given to only a few through a highly secretive process. Cia Vale, 17, is thrilled to be chosen as a candidate for the Testing until her father warns her: Trust no one. Although candidates’ minds are wiped clean of any memories afterward, Cia’s father remembers enough to put her on her guard. She will need every talent, every aptitude for science and mechanics, every instinct for survival before the Testing is through. But what are the judges looking for? The will to survive, a dedication to the greater good or the willingness to do anything to eliminate the competition? This debut author, who trained as an opera singer, offers a thrilling dystopian novel, with nonstop action and a hint of romance. The few pages included at the end of the book of the next installment, titled “Independent Study,” whet the appetite for what comes next, in the fall.